India’s Nuclear Submarine To Begin Sea Trials

India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine is set for sea trials. The billion-dollar project was first unveiled in 2009, to arm the country’s navy five such vessels which would be armed with nuclear-tipped missiles and torpedoes. "Arihant is steadily progressing towards operationalisation, and we hope to commence sea trials in the coming months," Indian navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma was quoted as saying. "Our maritime and nuclear doctrine will then be aligned to ensure that our nuclear insurance comes from the sea". Arihant is powered by an 85-megawatt nuclear reactor and can reach 44 kilometers an hour (24 knots) and can carry a 95-member crew on board. Earlier this year, the Indian navy inducted a Russian-leased nuclear submarine into service with 43 warships currently under construction. And the first of six Scorpene submarines under contract would join the Indian navy in 2015 and the sixth by 2018.